Chile

In this report we explore the relationship(s) between labour and environmental policy making in Chile and labour perspectives on the Chilean government's top-down approach to Just Transition policy development.

En este informe exploramos la relación entre la elaboración de políticas laborales y medioambientales en Chile y las perspectivas laborales sobre el enfoque descendente del Gobierno chileno en el desarrollo de políticas de transición justa.

The World’s lithium production needs to grow by 40-fold by 2024. Therefore, cheap, hight quality lithium carbonate is needed. The South American country of Chile, where lithium carbonate is processed using freely available sunlight, could potentially be a solution. But increases in lithium saltwater extraction results in a reduction of the interconnected freshwater supply system. Lead lithium extraction companies have broken their environmental obligations and agreements, leading to conflicts with local communities about distribution of costs and benefits. This article presents information gathered from interviews and reveals that not all community members support these extraction activities. There are open resentments of bribery attempts to overlook the effects of reduced water availability and substandard working conditions. A part nationalisation strategy has been developed that allows for small companies to bid for contracts; facilitation of scientific activities; a commitment from the government committed to recruiting 90% Chilian workers; and sending sector professionals on academic training programmes. However, Chilian lithium extraction workers feel neglected by their government.